Transport communications

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Archives for November 2013

“K” Line to Support Ocean Transportation of Mathematics Education Kits for Children in the Republic of South Africa

November 26, 2013 by

November 26, 2013

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) is proud to announce that it has been awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Japan

“K” Line has been supporting the volunteer activities of SAPESI (South African Primary Education Support Initiative) to improve the quality of primary education in the Republic of South Africa by providing ocean transportation of educational tools and books for children in the country free of charge.

On November 25, at Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Tokyo, “Bon Voyage Ceremony” of Mathematics Education Kits for elementary schools in South Africa has been held. At the ceremony, Certificates of Appreciation have been awarded by Ms. Nosicelo Mbele, Minister Plenipotentiary, to supporters of the project to present those kits to South Africa, including “K” Line. This time, “K” Line is carrying about 130 sets of arithmetic tools, 190 English books, and 10 sets of white magnetic boards from Yokohama to Durban.

Other than mathematical education kits from Japan, “K” Line has been supporting “Mobile Library Project” promoted by SAPESI by providing free ocean transportation of English books for children in South Africa from around the world since 2011.

“K” Line continues contribution to society through its core business, ocean transportation.

Filed Under: "K" Line

Dachser opens joint venture in Indonesia

November 25, 2013 by

Kempten/Jakarta. November 25, 2013. Dachser continues its global expansion in the Air & Sea Logistics business field by forming a joint venture in Indonesia starting November 18.

PT Dachser Indonesia now offers services ranging from air and sea freight to customs processing. Headquartered in Jakarta, the joint venture, in which Dachser is the largest shareholder, launched operations with currently 25 employees. Additional locations in the country will be added in 2014.

“Our presence in Indonesia means that—after Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia—we now have a foothold in another Southeast Asian country that is experiencing strong growth. Not only are we expanding our service portfolio for intra-Asian transport—especially our cooperation with Singapore—but we are also further connecting the region to our global logistics network,” says Thomas Reuter, Managing Director of Dachser Air & Sea Logistics.

Steven Ryan, who worked for more than 20 years in the industry, has been tasked with directing the country organization. He recently joined Dachser and will report in the future to Dachser’s regional management based in Singapore. Assisted by the co-owner of the JV, Hasmijati Koto, a shipping professional with a solid, long-standing reputation in the country, the new firm is off to a good start, thanks to valuable expertise, contacts, and know-how.

With over 240 million inhabitants, Indonesia is one of the largest markets in Southeast Asia, boasting a large shipping volume to Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and the US.

Air-Sea_05_300dpi

About Dachser:

Dachser, a family-owned company headquartered in Kempten, Germany, is one of the leading logistics providers in Europe.

Dachser provides comprehensive transport logistics, warehousing, and customer-specific services in three business areas: Dachser European Logistics, Dachser Food Logistics, and Dachser Air & Sea Logistics Comprehensive and multi-disciplinary services, such as contract logistics, consulting and advisory services, and industry-specific solutions round out the company’s offerings. A seamless transport network—both in Europe and overseas—and information technology that is fully integrated into all its systems provide intelligent logistics solutions worldwide.

With a staff of 21,650 employees in 37 countries at 347 locations all over the globe, in 2012, Dachser generated revenue of EUR 4.41 billion and handled 49.8 million shipments weighing a total of 37.46 million tons.

For more information about Dachser, please visit www.dachser.com

 

Filed Under: Dachser UK

A 3PL’s Battle with Commoditisation – Menlo’s Solution

November 25, 2013 by

Amsterdam 25th November 2013

Menlo’s Tony Gunn tackled the vexing issue facing many 3PL’s today in his presentation at the eyefortransport’s 3PL Summit in Amsterdam last week. Supported by a valued Menlo customer from the medical technology sector he concluded that open collaboration between shipper and 3PL creates long-term relationships that result in the most value for both parties

Gunn, Menlo’s Managing Director in Europe, was also at pains to explain that a focus on reduced costs in the supply chain need not be at the expense of innovation; rather that the later can drive the former through the use of a structured, continuous improvement programme.

Menlo, the global logistics and supply chain management unit of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW) offers supply chain and transportation management services as well at 3PL and 4PL logistics solutions to a large number of companies in a variety of vertical sectors across the globe.  However Gunn drew on his Company’s experience with a leading medical technology supplier to help answerer the question, ‘How can the 3PL industry profitably innovate and win the battle against commoditisation?’

Gunn noted that many 3PL/shipper engagements are tactical rather than strategic.  “Often shippers, in the main driven by their procurement functions focussing on cost reduction, make short-term choices based on volatile market demands.  In the process they lose sight of greater efficiencies that can transpire from longer-term commitments to a logistics supplier,” he noted and proposes a switch in focus from cost to quality and innovative relationships.

The Menlo executive outlined a value-driven supply chain transformation concept that, in his Company’s case employs the Lean methodology’ to achieve a culture of continuous improvement which unites shipper and 3PL in a mutual optimisation exercise.  This method empowers employees of both parties to make beneficial changes to the supply chain process.

In the case of the medical technology client, it was revealed that such an approach produced supply chain savings of 16% in warehouse costs over a twenty-four month period. In Global Forwarding Management some 56% and 10% cost reductions were achieved across two logistics scenarios respectively.  The same analysis saw KPI performances of over 99% when measuring ‘ship on time’, receiving and inventory accuracy functions.  There were corresponding innovations in warehouse design and supply chain optimisation.  The latter featuring shipment consolidation, improved planning to remove redundant transport legs and more efficient mode utilisation.

ENDS

About Menlo Worldwide Logistics Europe

In Europe, Menlo Worldwide Logistics maintains seventeen dedicated and multi-client logistics centres located in the Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany and the United Kingdom. This warehouse network can serve as pan-European distribution solution using one or several facilities.

Supply chain and transport management solutions as well as 3PL, warehousing and distribution services are offered to a variety of vertical industry sectors including: fashion & apparel; healthcare and medical equipment; hi-tech electronic and data network equipment; automotive; defence and government services and retail e-fulfilment. The European headquarters is at the multi-client Amsterdam Distribution Centre in the Netherlands.

www.menloworldwide.com/europe

Follow Menlo on Twitter: http://twitter.com/MenloLogistics

About Menlo Worldwide Logistics

Menlo Worldwide Logistics, LLC, is a US$1.7 billion global provider of logistics, transportation management and supply chain services with operations in five continents, including North America. As a third-party logistics provider, San Francisco, California-based Menlo Worldwide Logistics’ services range from dedicated contract logistics to warehouse and distribution management, transportation management, supply chain reengineering and other value-added services including packaging, kitting, order fulfillment and light assembly through a strategic network of multi-client and dedicated facilities.

With nearly 20million square feet of dedicated warehouse space in North America, the Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America, and industry-leading technologies, Menlo Worldwide Logistics creates effective, integrated solutions for the transportation and distribution needs of leading businesses around the world. Menlo Worldwide Logistics, LLC, is a subsidiary of Con-way Inc. (NYSE: CNW), a $5.7 billion diversified freight transportation and logistics company.

Filed Under: Menlo Logistics

Evergreen Line Provides Boosts to Libyan Trade

November 25, 2013 by

Evergreen Line has announced an improvement to its services to and from the North African state of Libya with the launch of a new Group-operated feeder service from Piraeus to Tripoli.

The LYS3 Service will begin operation at the end of November and significantly enhance Evergreen’s network coverage for importers to the oil-rich state.

This new loop will be operated by the 700 teu capacity M/V LUCA on a dedicated, fortnightly basis and will extend the line’s services to Libya significantly.  Evergreen already has its LYS serving Benghazi via the network hub at Piraeus and its LYS2 linking Misrata with Piraeus, Mersin and Alexandria.

Evergreen is striving to provide the most comprehensive container service connecting Libya to the world’s economic markets via its extensive global port network.

Filed Under: Evergreen Line

“K” Line to Support Typhoon Victims in the Philippines

November 21, 2013 by

November 21, 2013

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) has today announced that, in order to give relief to victims of Super Typhoon “Haiyan” and support disaster recovery efforts, it has decided to donate 5 million yen (approx. 50,000 US dollar) through The Rayomar Outreach Foundation Inc. (ROFI*), a charitable institution founded by Rayomar Group, “K” Line’s business partner in the Philippines, as well as to provide seafarers, their families, and students of maritime academies with financial support. At the moment, the estimated amount of the donation and the financial support is around 20 million yen (approx. 200,000 US dollar) in total.

In addition, “K” Line has decided to provide transportation of emergency relief supplies to the country free of charge by its containerships from Japan in conjunction with the Japanese Shipowners’ Association (JSA).

The typhoon that hit mid Philippines on November 8 brought great deal of damages to the country.

The Philippines is the largest supplier of seafarers in the world, and a number of Filipino seafarers are on board vessels operated by “K” Line.

“K” Line would express its most sincere sympathy to all those affected by the typhoon and hopes its support may be of any help for the soonest recovery of the damaged area.

*ROFI is a charitable institution to support a livelihood, medical care and education, as well as to as to collect donation and to support volunteering activities.

 

 

For further information, please contact:

Toshiaki Takasaki

Manager, CSR & Compliance Division

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. Tokyo

TEL: 81-3-3595-5092 FAX: 81-3-3595-6076

Filed Under: "K" Line

Evergreen’s Intra-Asia Service Network Receives Boost

November 14, 2013 by

November 14, 2013

Evergreen Line is partnering with Hanjin to create its New Ho Chi Minh Service (NHS).  Providing a significant boost to the service offered to shippers in the region, NHS will link Korea, China, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia.

The NHS service will employ four ships each with a 2,500 teu capacity (one supplied by Evergreen and the others by Hanjin). The service will have a weekly frequency and a port rotation as follows: Kwangyang, Busan, Shanghai, Shekou, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Port Kelang, Penang, Tanjung Pelepas, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Kwangyang. The first vessel on the NHS is planned to sail from Kwangyang on the 22nd of November.

The ASEAN countries, made up of the majority of South-east Asian states, boast some of the highest forecast growth rates of any region of the world.  In 2013 the ASEAN economy looks set to grow by 5% and next year’s estimate is 5.4% according to IMF’s World Economic Outlook report.  For this reason Evergreen is seeking to provide an even more comprehensive network service than it already offers. The inception of the NHS is in keeping with this aim.

In addition, it is believed that the free trade development that will potentially result from the establishment of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will further drive cargo demand in the Intra-Asia trades. Negotiations to establish RCEP were initiated this year between ASEAN, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Filed Under: Evergreen Line

TT Club Continues its Mission to Achieve a Safer and More Secure Supply Chain

November 7, 2013 by

London & Hong Kong, 7 November 2013

Freight transport insurance specialist TT Club is continuing its efforts to reduce risk in the supply chain.  Through constant analysis of the claims it receives, the international insurer has pinpointed an array of operational circumstances that more commonly cause dangerous incidents resulting in bodily injury, sometimes death, and significant loss and damage to cargo, equipment and property.

Following in a series of presentations at industry gatherings, by which the Club seeks to draw attention to such causes and advises on steps to improve safety, the latest effort was at a meeting last week in Hong Kong of members of the Japanese International Freight Forwarders Association (JIFFA) and hosted by the Hong Kong Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Giving the presentation, TT Club’s Regional Director Asia-Pacific, Phillip Emmanuel commented, “The picture is very clear, the overwhelming majority of claims, some 95% of those we’ve analysed had causation that involved the human factor including operational causes and those related to maintenance (or lack of it); the remainder being down to weather events”.

The TT Club has for some time now been emphasising the need for operators to take more account of the human factor in their risk mitigation programmes.  “There is so much that can be achieved in reducing claims at ports, terminals and throughout the physical supply chain by establishing more robust training programmes for truck drivers and equipment operators as well as warehouse and terminal personnel, who are involved in cargo packing as well as container and truck movements”, highlighted Emmanuel.

Such training would help in reducing incidents that are caused by bad handling and stowage, which together make up nearly a third of those classed as systems and process issues in the TT Club analysis.  A further 40% or more of these issues were caused by errors that might be avoided had a more disciplined checking system been applied; these include clerical and contractual mistakes, incomplete customs declarations and the release of cargoes without receipt of the appropriate documentation.

Emmanuel also stressed that good management should include the provision of physical devices to enhance safety and security.  Extending beyond fencing and CCTV at terminals and warehouses to prevent theft, these may include anti-collision devices to avoid handling equipment accidents and regular maintenance using high quality spares to reduce the risk of fires.

As a final plea to transport operators, the Club highly recommends a detailed due diligence procedure be adopted and carried out when employing sub-contractors for transport services.  TT’s analysis reveals that of the costs accruing from theft, 66% occur either when carried by a sub-contractor or from a contractors’ premises.   “The phrase ‘know your contractor’ should be the guide for all transport operators seeking to protect themselves from the consequences of cargo theft”, concluded Emmanuel.

ENDS

Note to Editors:

A full copy of Phillip Emmanuel’s presentation is available on request


The TT Club is the international transport and logistics industry’s leading provider of insurance and related risk management services. Established in 1968, the Club’s membership comprises ship operators, ports and terminals, road, rail and airfreight operators, logistics companies and container lessors. As a mutual insurer, the Club exists to provide its policyholders with benefits, which include specialist underwriting expertise, a world-wide office network providing claims management services, and first class risk management and loss prevention advice.

Filed Under: TT Club

Shipowners’ Club Once More Keeps Premium Rises to a Minimum

November 6, 2013 by

Despite a continued upward trend in the cost of claims and additional reinsurance costs, The Shipowners’ Club, P&I insurance provider to the smaller and specialist vessel sector, is to raise premiums by just 5% for the 2014/15 renewal.

 

31st October 2013

Announcing its half year (2013/14) financial results Shipowners, which minimised its premium rise at the last renewal to a market low of 5%, will keep next year’s increase to a similar small rise.  In the P&I Club’s Half-year Report, issued yesterday, Chief Executive Charles Hume stated, “We appreciate that any increase is unwelcome and we recognise that it is necessary to achieve a balance between ensuring the long-term financial security of the Club and recognising the financial challenges faced by many Members in the current economic climate. As Members and brokers will be aware, our track record of general increases is the most competitive in the market and we intend to keep it that way.”

Highlighted in the half-year report is the continued growth in both premium and tonnage entered in the Club.  In the first six months of the trading year earned premiums are up some 11.5% at USD 120.3 million, of which USD 5 million represents new business over the same period, when compared to the previous year.  Vessel tonnage entered stands at 24.47 million GT, an increase of 18.6%.

As indicated, though, claims are also trending upwards both in frequency and value, net of reinsurance.  There was particular volatility in the second quarter with the impact from claims within the USD 1 to 5 million band having the most effect.

Charles Hume noted that these trends were consistent with reports from the market in general. “We will be monitoring the claims position for the third quarter very closely,” he commented.

The report shows that the Club remains in a strong financial position with a surplus of USD 1.1 million for the first six months and an increase in capital and free reserves to USD 276.7 million.  The combined ratio for the period is 98.4% against 95.5% for the full 2012/13 year; excluding some small improvements in back years the pure year combined ratio is 100.6%.

Hume continued, “The 5% general increase continues to include the increased costs of reinsurance. It is inevitable that these costs will rise again and, uniquely within the International Group, the Club is absorbing them within the general increase. We intend to utilise the Club’s very strong capital position for the benefit of the membership to ensure that the likely increase in reinsurance costs is mitigated.”

“We place the utmost value on the long-term relationships that we develop with our Members whose financial interests, we believe, are ultimately best served by the stability and continuity of entry with the Club,” concluded Charles Hume.  “In turn we thank both our Members and their brokers for their long-standing support.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

A pdf of the Half Year Report 2013/14 is available for download at

http://www.shipownersclub.com/publications/latest-publications

The Shipowners’ Club is a mutual marine liability insurer, providing Protection & Indemnity insurance to smaller and specialist vessels since 1855. The Club currently insurers over 33,000 vessels from more than 6,200 Members worldwide and is a member of the International Group of P&I Clubs.

The Club has offices located in Luxembourg, London, Singapore and Vancouver.

Filed Under: The Shipowners' Protection Ltd

Geodis Wilson to Exhibit at One of the Largest Maritime Logistics Events, in Europort 2013

November 6, 2013 by

 

Rotterdam, 31 October 2013

The global multimodal service provider Geodis Wilson will be exhibiting at this year’s Europort exhibition in Rotterdam to showcase its marine transport and logistics capabilities.

Geodis Wilson, the global freight management division of SNCF Geodis Group, will be represented at Europort from 5 – 8 November 2013 at Ahoy, Rotterdam, with its own exhibition stand No. 1810. As a leading provider of marine transport and logistics solutions, the company is using one of the largest maritime exhibitions worldwide to promote its innovative tailored solutions covering the entire transport and logistics chain for ship owners and operators.

With more than 30,000 maritime professionals from over 90 countries attending, Europort is an excellent opportunity for Geodis Wilson to discuss and share information on innovative technology and smart solutions for the maritime industry.

“Our dedicated services for maritime customers include regional support centers and a broad range of information management solution, our eSolutions”, Marcel van Mourik, Manager Marine Logistics for The Netherlands “With our ‘Marine Order Management’ (MOM) tool, we are able to provide the marine industry with a convenient, tailored in-house order and warehouse management system.” The company also provides Global Control Tower system as a single point of contact for all customer inquiries. Geodis Wilson is working for ship owners, shipping companies, suppliers of ship spare parts, shipyards, shipbuilders, ship maintenance and repair companies as well as shipbuilders.

For more information on the Conference go to – www.europort.nl

ENDS

About Geodis Wilson and the Geodis Group

Geodis Wilson is a leading, global freight management company. With 7,700 employees in more than 50 countries the company delivers tailor-made, integrated logistics solutions to customers enabling them to operate as ‘best in class.’ Geodis Wilson – with a revenue of 2,64bn€ in 2012 – is the freight forwarding arm of Geodis Group which became part of the French rail and freight group SNCF in 2008. With its 46.000 employees in more than 60 countries and a revenue of 9.5 bn € (2012), SNCF Geodis ranks among the top 7 companies in its field in the world.

For more information about Geodis Wilson go to – www.geodiswilson.com

Filed Under: GEODIS

“K” Line announce Financial Highlights for 2nd Quarter of F2013

November 6, 2013 by

31st October 2013

 

On behalf of our client Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd, (“K” Line) we are pleased to send you notification of their Financial Highlights for the 2nd quarter of F2013.

English version

This is also available to download from their website : http://www.kline.co.jp/en/

  • Difference in Financial Results from Projections, Revised Forecast of Financial Results – http://bit.ly/HrfXdv

For further information, please contact:

Makoto Arai

General Manager, IR & PR Group

Tel:  +81-3-3595-5189  Fax: +81-3-3595-5001

Filed Under: "K" Line
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